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Reactivity and Spectroscopy of Gas Phase Metal Oxide Cluster Ions: Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Fundamental Insights into Heterogeneous Catalysis. This project will make use of world class ARC funded instrumentation to carry out breakthrough science. The research will contribute fundamental insights into chemical bond activation relevant to industrial catalytic processes important to national manufacturing industries. These insights will improve the efficiency and selectivity of catal ....Reactivity and Spectroscopy of Gas Phase Metal Oxide Cluster Ions: Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Fundamental Insights into Heterogeneous Catalysis. This project will make use of world class ARC funded instrumentation to carry out breakthrough science. The research will contribute fundamental insights into chemical bond activation relevant to industrial catalytic processes important to national manufacturing industries. These insights will improve the efficiency and selectivity of catalytic processes and lead to increased profitability and/or a reduction in unwanted side products and pollution. The project will train young scientists in important experimental and theoretical chemical techniques, and will enhance and contribute to Australia's international research profile.Read moreRead less
Novel Nanostructures of Metal Oxides and Sulfides Intercalated Laponite for Catalytic Applications. The project aims to develop a novel synthesis approach for making nanocomposites of transition metal oxides and sulfides intercalated laponite clay. Such nanomaterials made by integrating template synthesis and intercalation have superior pore and surface properties promising for advanced catalytic applications. The project will provide insights into mechanisms of nanostructure formation and inter ....Novel Nanostructures of Metal Oxides and Sulfides Intercalated Laponite for Catalytic Applications. The project aims to develop a novel synthesis approach for making nanocomposites of transition metal oxides and sulfides intercalated laponite clay. Such nanomaterials made by integrating template synthesis and intercalation have superior pore and surface properties promising for advanced catalytic applications. The project will provide insights into mechanisms of nanostructure formation and interactions of molecular species during synthesis. The best catalysts screened will be tested for two important reactions to establish the relationships between processing parameters, nanostructural properties and catalytic performance. Optimised synthesis parameters for high catalytic performance will be obtained. The project contributes to significant knowledge creation in nanomaterials science and catalysis.Read moreRead less
Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will desi ....Reactions of Coordinated Dinitrogen. The program will develop novel metal-based catalysts and reagents that will transform nitrogen gas into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (nitrogen fixation). This fundamental chemical transformation underpins major chemical industries and this new approach using organometallic catalysts will significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia production and reduce the energy and harsh reaction conditions currently required. This program will design catalysts with multiple complementary metal centres tailored to bind and activate nitrogen gas to facilitate its reaction with hydrogen or other reagents.Read moreRead less
Supported Molecular Catalysts for Methanol Oxidation and Other Reactions. Knowledge arising from these fundamental studies has the potential to place Australia at the forefront of this important area of materials science and catalysis. We expect to make discoveries that will be useful not only in the area of catalysts for the direct methanol fuel cell, but also in systematising and developing the whole field of bio-mimetic supported electrocatalysts. Relevant findings in these exciting areas wil ....Supported Molecular Catalysts for Methanol Oxidation and Other Reactions. Knowledge arising from these fundamental studies has the potential to place Australia at the forefront of this important area of materials science and catalysis. We expect to make discoveries that will be useful not only in the area of catalysts for the direct methanol fuel cell, but also in systematising and developing the whole field of bio-mimetic supported electrocatalysts. Relevant findings in these exciting areas will be relayed to researchers and commercialised where appropriate. This multidisciplinary project will also provide an excellent environment for research training.Read moreRead less
Alkane transformations through binding to metals. Alkanes are fully saturated hydrocarbons and they are the major components of petroleum, including natural gas and liquid hydrocarbon fuels. They are abundant but finite, and their primary usage has been as fuels since they burn readily and release energy. Alkanes are relatively low-value, high-volume chemical feedstocks which are not easy to convert into more useful value-added materials. This project focuses on developing positively charged met ....Alkane transformations through binding to metals. Alkanes are fully saturated hydrocarbons and they are the major components of petroleum, including natural gas and liquid hydrocarbon fuels. They are abundant but finite, and their primary usage has been as fuels since they burn readily and release energy. Alkanes are relatively low-value, high-volume chemical feedstocks which are not easy to convert into more useful value-added materials. This project focuses on developing positively charged metal-based compounds that can bind directly to alkanes to increase their reactivity and enable their transformation into higher value products such as alcohols and olefins which are important chemical feedstocks.Read moreRead less
Gas-phase and catalytic reaction of halons under reducing conditions. Halons are ozone-depleting substances, but their use continues in most countries. This project pursues techniques to convert, rather than destroy, halons into benign and useful products. The aims of this project are to gain a fundamental understanding of the reactions of the most commonly used halons, 1301, 1211 and 2402, and perform a detailed examination of catalytic processes for conversion of halons to HFCs. The primary ....Gas-phase and catalytic reaction of halons under reducing conditions. Halons are ozone-depleting substances, but their use continues in most countries. This project pursues techniques to convert, rather than destroy, halons into benign and useful products. The aims of this project are to gain a fundamental understanding of the reactions of the most commonly used halons, 1301, 1211 and 2402, and perform a detailed examination of catalytic processes for conversion of halons to HFCs. The primary outcome from the study will be the development of a process specifically designed to convert halons into useful products. This will assist with efforts to phase out continued halon use.Read moreRead less
TiO2 nanoparticle design and photocatalysis applications. The aim is to design nanosized TiO2 photocatalsysts with superior photoactivity using various synthesis paths. Nanosized TiO2 particles will be prepared using sol-gel, aerosol and plasma processing, their physical and chemical properties will be closely studied and their photocatalytic ability will be assessed. Such tailor-made photocatalysts have significant commercial potential value, as they would be highly suitable for the photooxidat ....TiO2 nanoparticle design and photocatalysis applications. The aim is to design nanosized TiO2 photocatalsysts with superior photoactivity using various synthesis paths. Nanosized TiO2 particles will be prepared using sol-gel, aerosol and plasma processing, their physical and chemical properties will be closely studied and their photocatalytic ability will be assessed. Such tailor-made photocatalysts have significant commercial potential value, as they would be highly suitable for the photooxidation of organic compounds and the photoreduction of metal ions in wastewaters. Findings from this work will pave the way for a "green" technology such as photocatalysis to become more efficient and hence a competitive alternative to conventional water treatment methods.Read moreRead less
Transformation of halons and CFC to valuable products through their reaction with methane. Halons and CFCs are well known as ozone depleting substances (ODS). This project pursues the development of a novel process to transform stockpiles of halons and CFCs into vinylidene difluoride (C2H2F2). Vinylidene difluoride is a highly valued commodity, used in the synthesis of heat resistant materials. The primary aim of this research is to gain understanding of the role of catalysts during conversion o ....Transformation of halons and CFC to valuable products through their reaction with methane. Halons and CFCs are well known as ozone depleting substances (ODS). This project pursues the development of a novel process to transform stockpiles of halons and CFCs into vinylidene difluoride (C2H2F2). Vinylidene difluoride is a highly valued commodity, used in the synthesis of heat resistant materials. The primary aim of this research is to gain understanding of the role of catalysts during conversion of CFC 12 and halon 1211 into the desired reaction product. The signifigance of the project is that it will facilitate development of a process for non-destructive treatment of ozone depleting substances. The major outcome of the proposed research is it will lay the technical foundation for the development of an energy efficient process to convert rather than destroy these ODS.Read moreRead less
Photodegradation of Oestrogenic Pollutants in the aquatic environment. Recent media attention has highlighted the problem of oestrogenic pollutants in the aquatic environment. This research proposes to investigate Photocatalysis of oestrogens in water using the magnetic titanium dioxide particles developed at the Centre for Particle and Catalyst Technologies in the University of New South Wales, Sydney. The natural oestrogens 17b-oestradiol, oestrone and oestriol and the synthetic oestrogen 17a- ....Photodegradation of Oestrogenic Pollutants in the aquatic environment. Recent media attention has highlighted the problem of oestrogenic pollutants in the aquatic environment. This research proposes to investigate Photocatalysis of oestrogens in water using the magnetic titanium dioxide particles developed at the Centre for Particle and Catalyst Technologies in the University of New South Wales, Sydney. The natural oestrogens 17b-oestradiol, oestrone and oestriol and the synthetic oestrogen 17a-ethynyl oestradiol (the main constituent of the contraceptive pill) will be investigated in the photocatalytic system. Degradation will be monitored using various analytical techniques. Other commercial catalysts will also be investigated and compared with the magnetic catalyst and previous catalysts tested.Read moreRead less